Recent seat-time with BMW’s Sport competitor, the X6, was sandwiched between a week in a normally aspirated HSE and a Supercharged ‘Rangey’. Was the new Bavarian stellar enough to knock the Solihull product off the peak as king of the aspirational SUVs?

As the HSE came first, I might have concluded that the sun had set on the British marque. The BMW was fast and refined, with terrific ride and handling, and a sumptuous interior of extremely high quality. It also had decent cargo volume despite its truncated tail, and roomy and comfortable seating for four. And it had all the mod cons like a slick slippy diff that would vector power to individual rear wheels and active steering and active antiroll bars, not to mention more hedonistic toys like surround sound and keyless go.

Then I drove an RRSS (Range Rover Super Sport as we like to call ‘em) across the state…

It all came back to me: the organic, feelsome steering, which allows one to push on with confidence. The world-renowned suspension tuning of Mike Cross and the legendary (and recently retired) VP Richard Parry-Jones, who together have endowed so many Jaguars, Rovers, and Fords with their superb dynamics.

The RRSS also has active antiroll bars, which use hydraulic actuators to keep the big brute on an even keel as the g-loads build. They can’t of course help with pitch and squat, which the Rangey has a fair amount of. However, that doesn’t seem to detract from one’s ability to press on, and reassured by the stout Brembo stoppers that come standard on the S/C model, time was made across a variety of challenging roads.

The supercharged 4.2-liter also boasts a better exhaust note than the BMW’s direct-injected grumble, and has more off-the-line urge. Fuel usage was about the same: mid-teens in mixed use. And the Land Rover still has just about the best automatic in the world, despite lacking the X6’s paddle shift control.

The Sport’s interior is well built, and has all the basics right, but it is starting to feel a bit Spartan. Back seat room is also tight with taller front row occupants aboard. Although it has no smart key, its Harman Kardon audio comes standard, and was more than a match in tonal accuracy and seductive sound for the $2000 optional system in the BMW (though it lacks HiDef radio, which sounds much better than satellite).

Finally, though I love the funky audaciousness of the X6’s clothing, I can’t help but feel it will age much faster than Richard Woolley’s and Jeff Upex’s sportified update of the classic Range Rover classic. I am very glad that the Bavarian’s have moved the game on in some areas, as it will make necessary a suitable British response.

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